In the Redskins' draft corner: Auburn's Carlos Rogers

ASHBURN, Va. (AP)_By the time the Washington Redskins were on the clock, the decision was easy. Two of the three top-tier cornerbacks were already chosen, so they took the only one left: Carlos Rogers of Auburn. Coach Joe Gibbs said, "To be honest, probably the worst fear would have been -- all three corners would have been gone." He chose Rogers at No. 9 overall in today's NFL draft.

Adam "Pacman" Jones went to Tennessee at No. 6, and Antrel Rolle was plucked by Arizona at No. 8, leaving Rogers to fill the team's biggest hole. He will essentially replace Fred Smoot, who left as a free agent to sign with Minnesota.

Just over six feet tall and weighing 195 pounds, Rogers likes to hit as well as cover, an essential quality in a Redskins defense that asks its defensive backs to blitz often. He was the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back for the undefeated Tigers last year, when opponents completed just 18 of 65 passes (27 percent) of the passes thrown his way

Rogers, speaking from his home in Augusta, Georgia., was practically bubbling over his selection, having been impressed by a recent visit to Redskins Park Gibbs said Rogers called about eight times during the week to learn if the Redskins were still interested.

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